What is D2L?

James FalkofskeSCTC Fall 2007

D2L is an online system allowing…

• Posting of content and files (Word, PowerPoint, Excel, pictures, audio, video)

• Collection and return of homework files• Grade and grade feedback entry• Online threaded discussions (similar to email list-

serves, but persistent and located in one place)• Posting of news items and reminders• Listing of FAQs, Glossary terms, and hyperlinks• Collection of surveys

Terms You Might Hear• D2L – Desire2Learn, a Candian based company providing software

for IMS operations• HTML – Hypertext Markup Language, the base “language of the

web” for displaying web pages, images, media objects, and forms• IMS – Instructional Management System, online system for

quizzing, homework, grades, and presentation of content• SCORM – Sharable Content Object Reference Model, a way for

data and content to be transferable from one IMS to another• Section 508 – a Federal law requiring that all online content be

accessible to all audiences when Federal dollars are involved• W3C – World Wide Web Consortium, international body defining

the languages and formats used by the Internet• WAI – Web Accessibility Initiative of W3C• XML – eXtensible Markup Language. A process of creating content

that has data tags included to allow easy access to data elements

Getting to D2L

• Campus Home Page– Hot Spots >

Desire2Learn– Click link to go to

Login Page– Run the SYSTEM

CHECK• IF you have courses in

D2L, your login will be the same as your campus Network credentials

Practice Login

• UserName: TestFaculty2007

• PW: 2007FacultyTest

My Home

Top Toolbar Links• My Home: brings you to course listings and help

tutorials• Email: D2L internal email• Locker: temporary file storage space• Schedule: calendar of upcoming tasks and

assignments• FAQ: Questions students might ask• Help: basic information about D2L tools• Links: Campus resource information• Chat: ability to have instant text-message session with

classmates you select.

Course Home

Course Home Page

• News postings (most recent 3 show, but students can click SHOW ALL to see past messages)

• Welcome Box allows changes in preferences and profile information

• Updates shows work to be done (personalized to each user)

• Faculty Help widget

Content

Content Page• Series of headings and hyperlinks (no graphics)• Structured by MODULE headings (non-click-able,

black titles); sub-modules can also be created (see Training Materials and Audio Sample Files)

• Many different file formats can be used (.ppt, .doc, .xls, .jpeg, .gif, .rtf, .html, .pdf); users must have software that can open the files

• Typical Content would include handouts, PPTs, syllabi, course schedules, assignment descriptions and rubrics, sample assignments

Discussions

Discussions Page• Forums: electronic rooms into which topics can

be discussed• Topics: the conversation held within a forum• Both Forums and Topics can be restricted by

groups of users and/or by start and end dates• Instructors see all discussions; students only see

discussions to which they are enrolled and which are time/date opened for them.

• Student posts can include file attachments with the BROWSE button, allowing peer sharing and peer review of materials.

Classlist

Classlist Page

• Allows PAGING of users (clicking the name)• Allows EMAIL to users (clicking email address)• Allows view by Group, Staff, or Students• Ability to view PROFILE and HOMEPAGE of

other users

Dropbox

Dropbox Page

• Allows submission and return of homework• Students can upload multiple files to each

homework folder• Student receive a notice when they have

FEEDBACK on an assignment

Quizzes

Quizzes Page• Allows computer-scored quizzes (multiple-choice,

true/false, order and sequence, matching, mathematics, fill-in-the-blank [exact matches only recognized])

• Time and Date restrictions as well as duration (number of minutes allowed); special needs students can be given SPECIAL ACCESS for more time / extended dates

• Multiple attempts can be set• SUBMISSION VIEWS can be set to allow students

to see the correct answers to questions missed

Grades

Grades Page

• Allows grading and tracking of individual assignments

• Students can view their grades at any time• Grouping of assignments in a category allows

LOW assignments to be dropped (at instructor discretion)

• Text-based feedback delivered to students along with grade

Process for Getting Course Shell• Contact Kim Vossen (Kvossen@sctc.edu) and

request a course shell• Provide:– Course Title / Name (Microsoft Software)– Course ID and section (BUSM 1200-02)– Term (Spring 08)– Course ID from ISRS (000676)

• You can get a DEVELOPMENT course if you need a “sandbox” with which to experiment

• Contact James Falkofske (Jfalkofske@sctc.edu) for training and strategies related to course build